Machine for use in fitting together boxes of the slide and shell type



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,473,496 W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR USE IN FITTING TOGETHER BOXES OF THE SLIDE AND SHELL TYPE Filed June 25. 1921 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Nov. 6,1923. 1,473,496

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR USE IN FITTING TOGETHER BOXES OF THE SLIDE-AND SHELL TYPE Filed June 23. 1921' 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 6 1923.

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR USE IN FITTING TOGETHER BOXES OF THE SLIDE AND SHELL TYPE Filed June 23 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 6 1923.

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR USE IN FITTING TOGETHER BOXES OF THE SLIDE AND SHELL TYPE Filed June 25. 1921 4 SheetsSheet 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR USE'IN FITTING TOGETHER BOXES OF THE SLIDE AND SHELL TYPE.

Application filed June 23, 1921." Serial No. 479,912.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I. \VALTER Enann'r'r Mo- LINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Use in Fitting Together Boxes ofthe Slide and Shell Type, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for use in fitting together the two parts of a two-piece cardboard or similar box of the kind generally known as the slide and shell type. Such boxes consist of an interior slide or drawer enclosed in an outer shell, so that the slide or drawer can be pushed out of the shell at either end. such boxes being largely used for packing cigarettes and other small articles.

The boxes are usually supplied from the printers or makers with the slide in the form of a flat scored blank and the shell folded and gummed, but in a fiat collapsed state.

The machine. according to the present invention. is arranged to fold the slide, open the shell and insert the slide into the shell, automatically and continuously. as long as the requisite blank sides and collapsed shells are supplied thereto. The machine may conveniently be combined with an automatic filling machine of known kind which fills the slides before they are inserted in the shell.

With the above objects in view, the machine comprises means for feeding the slides one by one from a stack, means for partially folding the slide. and, if desired. filling same. means for further folding the slide and inserting the same into the shell, the latter having been previously opened by the machine from the flat ready to receive the slide.

To enable the invention to be fully un derstood it will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of a machine con structed according to one form of the invention. Y

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, respectively in Fig. 1. showing the folding of the slide.

Fig. 4 is a view of the slide magazine and feeding apparatus showing also the mean for partially folding the slide.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4,

showing the mechanism for ing the slide.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of the machine showing the unopened shell in position for opening.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the shell opened and the filled and folded slide entered therein at one corner.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8, Fig. 6, of a portion of the shell opening mechamsm.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9. Fig. 6, of a further portion of the shell opening mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a side view of Fig. 7, shewin the opened shell and slide engaged, the shel being held in a stop member.

Fig. 11 is a View of a further detail of the mechanism for opening the shell and Fig. 12 is a View thereof at right angles to Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view of a detail showing the method of supporting the shell and slide during their passage over a gap between the end of a conveyor and the dellvery table as hereinafter described.

Fig. 14 is a view showing the mechanism for completely closing the shell and slide.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the flat open slide as inserted in the magazine of the machine.

Fig. 16 is a similar-view of a collapsed shell and also includes an end View of same.

Figs. 17 18 and 19 are views showing the successive stages of the folding of the slide as performed by the machine.

Fig. 20 is a view of a filled and folded slide partially inserted in the opened shell in the manner performed by the machine.

Fig. 21 is a View showing means which may be employedfor feeding the cigarettes on to the slide.

As shown in Fig. 1 the machine comprises a travelling conveyor 1 having cross pieces 1* carried on suitable sprocket wheels on a frame (not shown) such for example, as the lower conveyor described in the specification of British Letters Patent No. 113124. The conveyor travels from right to left in Figure 1.

In Fig. 15 one of the s1ides'2 is shown in the open flat condition in which it is inserted in the machine.

The slides such as 2 are placed in a stack in a magazine shown in Figs. 1 and '1. This magazine is arranged on one side of the conpartially foldveyor 1 and comprises side guide members 4 back and front members 5 6 and a bottom in the form of a reciprocating table 7. The table 7 is reciprocated by means of the eccentric 8 and connecting rod 9 driven from a spindle 10 suitably actuated, the tablebemg supported on rollers 11, journalled 1n the supporting frame of the machine. A spring 11 is provided for holding the table pressed on the rollers. The rear edge of the table has a pusher tooth 12 which passes through an opening in the back member 5 and on movement of the table moves one slide at a time from the bottom of the stack so that said slide is caught between continuously rotating rollers 13, driven from spindle 10 as shown and fed between suitably curved plates 14 which bend up the longitudinal edges of the slide (Fig. 17) and it is passed to a further set of rotating rollers 15 which deliver it on to the conveyor 1 approximately at right angles to the direction of travel of said conveyor.

At this stage if desired the partially folded slide may be filled by automatic machinery such as described in the specification of British Letters Patent No. 13956 of 1915. A. portion of such automatic machinery'is here indicated in Figs. 1 and 21. In said Figs. 1 and 21 the bunches of cigarettes travelling on a conve or 16 at right angles to the conveyor 1 an in line with the partially folded slide issuing from the rollers 15, are passed over a spring tongue 18 by rotating rollers 19 which feed the bunch of ci arettes into the partially folded slide 2.

he tongue 18 prevents the moving cigarettes from fouling the adjacent flat edges of the slide.

In Fig. 1 the apparatus is shewn with a bunch of cigarettes delivered into the slide 20 the succeeding bunch 21 on conveyor 16 being also shewn.

With the filled slide 20 in the position shewn in Fig. 1 the next operation is that the cross piece 1 on conveyor 1 in contact with the upturned edge of the slide carries said slide along through a channel 22 of L shaped angles 23 and suitably curved plates 24 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which first fold up the two end pieces 25 of the slide approximately into a vertical position (Fig. 18) and then bend said ends round said angles forming approximately horizontal flaps 26 on said ends, (Fig. 19), the angles 23 serving as supports durin the bending process.

The slide so folded is then carried by the conveyor into position for insertion into the shell. The collapsed shells B (Fig. 16) are stacked in a magazine 27 on the same side of the machine as the slide magazine, the magazine 27 being similar in construction to said magazine and having a similar reciprocating bottom with a pusher tooth for feeding the lowermost collapsed shell between continuously rotating rollers 28. These rollers 28 pass the slide between a set of continuously rotating sectors or discs 29 (Fig. 6) and one longitudinal edge of the shell enga es 9. V shaped groove 30 in a side plate 31 w ich as shewn in Fig. 8 is ivoted at 32 and normally held at an ang e to the path of the feed of the shell b a spring 33. The shell is further guide by sto members 34, 35 arranged to cause the s ell to move forward at the desired angle.

Across the path of the shell is arranged a metal blade 36, secured to the machine frame and having a free knife edge 37 which is located exactly in the centre of the V shaped groove 30 in the side plate 31.

As the edge of the colla sed shell is fed along the groove 30, the kni e edge 37 engages between the collapsed sides of the shell and in the corner A thereof (Fig. 6). To ensure this action taking place accurately the front or foremost edge of the blade 36 which first meets the shell may be slightly rounded as shown.

Super-posed upon the blade 36 is a second blade 38, having a leading edge 39 shaped to lie flat upon the blade 36 as best seen in Figs. 9 and 11, said edge being rounded and shaped to merge with the edge of the blade 36 so that the shell may be pushed over both blades and opened by swinging or lifting up the blade 38.

The blade 38 (Figs. 11 and 12) is carried on a bar 40 pivotal y connected to links 41 secured to the ends of spindles 42 rotatably mounted in a suitable frame 43. For rotating the spindles their other ends are provided with discs 44, linked together by a link 45 the upperdisc 44 being turned by a link 46 operated by a cam on a suitably driven spindle of the machine. The motion of the link 46 is such that on operation by the cam the discs 44 will turn through an angle sufficient to raise the blade 38 into the dotted line position, Fig. 12. Thus when the end of the collapsed shell has been pushed over both blades 36, 38, that is, when the blades have been inserted into the shell, operation of the link 46 causes the blade 38 to be raised lifting the side of the shell, and permitting the advancing slide to pass between the two blades to engage the shell. During this operation of the blade 38 the shell is engaged by the stop 35 and side plate 31.

With the above described arrangement as shewn in Fig. 7 the opened shell B meets the advancing slide C on the conveyor at an angle and the foremost corner of the slide enters the foremost inside edge of the shell, the latter being held against displacement by the side plate 31 and stop 35. The stop 35 as shewn in Fig. 10 allows the collapsed shell to pass underneath it but prevents the return of a fully opened shell once it has left the stop by reason of the edge D which when the shell has, assed is adapted to make contact with the nick edge of said opened shell.

When one corner of the slide has thus been inserted in the shell the opposite end of the slide is engaged by a usher plate 47 (Figs. 11 and 12) which is pivotally mounted at 48 on the machine frame and is normally in the full line position, Fig. 11, that is to say tilted away from the conveyor. As the folded slide C meets the shell B the plate 47 is swung inwards about the pivot 48 by means of a rocking bar 49 operated by a suitably driven cam and acting on a pin 50 secured on the back of the plate. This movement of the plate 47 causes its top edge 51 to make contact with the free end of the slide and forces the end of the slide already engaged cornerwise in the opened shell to enter said shell alongits whole length, the free end of the shell resting on the edge D of stop 35. As soon as the plate 47 has accomplished its object it moves back automatically into the full line position, Fig. 11. Simultaneously with the insertion of the slide in the shell by the plate 47 the grooved side plate 31 .is moved away from the shell b suitably driven cam mechanism preferably against the action of a spring so that the shell can pass over said plate 31. The motion of the conveyor then carries the shell with the slide partially inserted therein onwards, and the plate 31 returns to engage the succeeding collapsed shell. The plate 31 may be positively returned by t e cam mechanism if desired.

The conveyor then carries the slide C with the shell now partially therein, and delivers it upon a table 60 and in order that the conveyors maky deliver the boxes at rest suitable arrangements are made for bridging the gap E (Fig. 1) between the table 60 and the point where the conveyor passes down round its sprocket wheel. Such means as here shewn in Fig. 13 consists of a channel 61 arranged above the path of the conveyor into which one of the end flaps 62 of the slide passes, thus supporting the slide over the gap E. The other end of the slide may be supported b any suitable fixed means since the breadth of the conveyor need not exceed the length of the slide, and as one end of the slide is already inserted in the shell it may be supported by supporting the shell. I

In cases, as in the present example, where the slide has already been filled, on reaching the delivery table 60 a pivoted arm 63 (Fig. 14) actuated by a cam driven from a suitable spindle on the machine may be pr vided for pushing the shell home in the slide, a suitable stop 64 being provided for holding the shell during this operation.

Instead of positively liftin the blade 38 by the mechanism hereinbet ore described,

lines Fi 12. Immediately the slide has passed, t e blade 38 falls into position for the next operation as will be readily understood. I

Further the grooved side plate 31 instead of being mechanically operated as hereinbefore described may be held in operative position by a spring, the strength'of the latter being such that it is overcome when the slide mserted in the shell causes the latter to move sideways, the plate 31 being thus pushed out of the we and returning to its 0 rative position un er the action ofthe spring after the shell has passed.

The machine may be driven in any suitable manner, one form of drive beingillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1. As shown therein, the main shaft 91 is driven from any desired source of power through pulleys 92 and drives the conveyor 1 through a chain 93, engaging sprocket wheels 94, 95,

and conveyor 16 through bevel gear 96,

counter shaft 97 and sprockets 98. An extension 100 of the main shaft carries a bevel wheel 101 which engages bevel wheels 102, 103 and drives the slide feeding mechanism through shaft 104, sprocket wheels 105 and chain 106, and the shell feeding mechanism through shaft 107, sprocket wheels 108 and chain 109.

It will be understood that the above described machine may be used to operate on filled or unfilled slides and that when the machine isused for filling cigarettes, machines such as are described in the specification of British Letters Patent No. 13956 of 1915 and in the specification of application for British Letters Patent No. 21803 of 1920, dated 20th July, 1920, ma be arranged to deliver cigarettes in the esired groups or bundles to the slides carried on the conveyor of the present machine.

ther types of filling machines and mechanism however may be employed. Further any suitable known type of automatic feeding device may be employed for feeding the slides-and shells to the conveyor, the constructions herein described for this purpose being given as examples only.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a conveyor, means for feeding a slide upon the conveyor, means for feeding a shell toward the conveyor, means for holding the shell at an angle to the conveyor whereby the movement of the conveyor is adapted to insert a corner of the slide inthe slide fully to the shell, means for insertin the end of into the shell an means for releasing said holding means.

2. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a conveyor, means for feeding a slide upon the conveyor, means for feeding a shell toward the conveyor, means for holding the shell at an angle to the conveyor whereby movement of the conveyor is adapted to insert a corner of the slide into the shell, means for releasingthe holding means, means for insertin the end of the slide fully into the shell an for squaring the.

shell with respect to the conveyor and means for inserting the slide fully into the shell.

3. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a conveyor adapted to be continuously operated, means for feeding a slide upon the conveyor, means for feeding. a fiat shell transversely tothe conveyor, a guide for the shell and means for opening the shell, the guide being adapted to revent backward movement of the open shell? 4. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a conveyor, means for feeding a flat shell, a guide plate having a groove adapted to engage the edge of the shell to guide it toward the conveyor and means opposite the center of the groove adapted to enter the shell to open the latter.

5. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a conveyor, means for feeding a slide upon the conveyor, means for feeding a flat shell toward the conveyor, a guide plate having a groove adapted to engage t e edge of the shell to guilds it into the path ofthe slide, a pair of ades opposite the groove and adapted to enter the shell and means for separating the blades to open the shell.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, in combinatmn, a conveyor adapted to be continuously operated, means for feeding a slide u on the conveyor, means for feeding a fiat sliell into the path of the slide, a plate having a groove adapted to engage the edge of the shell to guide it at an angle to the conveyor, a pair of blades opposite the center of the groove and adapted to enter the shell. means for separating the blades to open the shell, a guide cooperating with said plate and adapted to hold the opened shell in the path of the slide whereby the motion of the conveyor is adaptedto insert one corner of the slide into theshell, means for pushing the end of the slide fully into the shell, and means for removing the plate to permit the shell and slide to be carried on by the cmiveyor.

7. In an apparatus of the class described,

in combination, a conveyor, means for feeding a slide upon the conveyor, means for feeding a shell transversely to the conveyor,

combination, means for opening means for holding the shell t an angle to the conveyor, means for opening the shell,

means for preventing backward movement for raising the ends of the cigarettes being fed to prevent fouling of the slide.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a conveyor adapted to be continuously operated, means for feeding a partially folded slide upon the conveyor, a second conveyor transverse to the first and adapted to feed a bunch of cigarettes endwise into the slide and a spring member adapted to engage the bunch to lift it clear of the end of the slide.

- 10. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a continuously moving conveyor, means for feeding a slide blank and a bunch of cigarettes in opposite directions upon the conveyor, fixed means for folding the sides of the blank, means for elevating the end of the bunch of cigarettes to clear the end of the blank, fixed folders cooperating with the conveyor to fold the ends of the blank, means for feeding a shell transversely to the conveyor and means for automatically iplseirting the filled and folded slide into the s e l.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, means for feeding a flat shell, pair of blades adapted to enter the shell, means for separating the blades to open the shell and means for feedin a slide between the blades and into the shel 12. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a feeding table, a pair of superposed blades, means for feeding a flat shell across the table, the blades being adapted to enter the shell and means for raisin one of the blades to open the shell, the ot er blade being fixed to hold the shell in position.

13. In a device of the class described in flat shells comprising means adapted positively to hold one side of the shell in fixed position and means adapted positively to lift the other side of the shell, and means for feeding fiat shells onto the opening means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.- 

